College of St. Scholastica, International Student Services, Information for employment and applying for a social security card

Employment

F-1 students may work on or off campus, but working off campus requires special authorization. In order to work on or off campus students need to apply for a Social Security Card. In order to apply for a card, students need to find work first, for more information on Social Security cards, please see below.

On campus

Working on campus is a possibility for all international students. Immigration regulations state that F-1 students are eligible to work during the semester part time (up to 20 hours a week) and full time (up to 40 hours per week) during the semester breaks. Due to a shortage of on-campus employment positions, St. Scholastica is unable to guarantee work to any student and is unable to provide 20 hours a week to most students. Therefore freshmen are able to work 10 hours a week and sophomores to seniors 15 hours per week.

Students who have been awarded on-campus employment as part of their scholarship get priority for jobs. This can be known by checking your I-20 under number 8 part d - if there is an amount listed there, then you have been awarded on campus employment as part of your scholarship. If no amount is stated in this location, you do not have priority to on-campus jobs and will have to wait 3-4 weeks into the semester to see if any positions are still vacant.

Students looking for work may visit the St. Scholastica employment website or check with Jonna Marholz, coordinator of on campus employment, in the Financial Aid office.

Off campus

Students may work off campus for three different purposes/reasons:

1. Economic Hardship
2. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
3. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Find out more information about these options

Social Security Card

The requirements for applying for a social security number have increased in complexity. Please follow the directions below.

Students must have a job offer for work on or off campus before being able to apply for a Social Security card. Students are responsible to provide the following documentation to the social security office:

• Your Passport, with a valid visa
• An I-20 from St. Scholastica, this will need to be stamped by US Customs
• I-94 (Arrival/departure record - white card)
• A "Hiring Request Form" - available from the Office of International Programs (issued by Financial Aid)
• SS-5 Application for Social Security Card

For questions about any of the above information contact the Office of International Programs.